Improvement in animal-traps



R. B. MAY.

Animal-Traps.

Patented Feb. 25,1873.

H 1f f T l w n -Z A y THU AM P11010 -L lmosRAP/l/c cb. M xmyaamve's macgss) NI'IED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT B. MAY, OF MURFREESBOROUGH, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANIMAL-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,330, dated February 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ROBERT B. MAY, of Murfreesberough, in the county of Rutherford and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Animal-Traps5 and I do hereby declare that the followin g is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specifieatioinand tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a sectional view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with a portion oi the top cut away.

YThis invention has relation to animaltraps 5 and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of a weighted pivoted platform constituting a part ofthe trap-roof, and at the same time acting as a tilting' platform; also of an inner tilting weighted platform covering a supplementary inclosnre, and in the general construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter described.

Beferrin g to the drawing, A designates an animal-trap having a portion of its top raised, as shown at A. B designates a four-winged pivoted trap-door, closing the front of the raised compartment A and a part of the roof of the trap. O is a sliding or pivoted spring?i bolt, which engages with a catch, a, to hold the trap-door B in the position shown in Fig. l. Attached to this bolt is a rod, b, which passes through an opening in the upper vertical wing of said trap-door, and is connected to a cleat, b', resting on a pivoted board, D. Vhen an animal of sufficient weight to depress the boardD stands upon it, the bolt is withdrawn and the trap-door tilted, causing the animal to fall into the trap, after which the trap door reassnmes its proper position, the bolt engaging with the catch. The pivotal point of the board D is near the rear end of the latter, thus enabling the board to be more easily depressed. The

bait-hook E is pivoted to the top of the trapdoor'B, and has its rear end connected by means of a rod, c, to the rear end of the board D, so that by pulling upon the bait-hook to obtain the bait the animal will thereby insure the tilting of said board when he is not heavy enough or does not rest his weight snfficiently on the forward part of the board. F designates a weighted pivoted platform constitutin g the remainder of the trap lid or roof. When the trap door B is in the position shown, the platform F rests upon studs gprojecting from the former. When the bolt is drawn the platform F is tilted by the weight of the animal, but, beingweighted at its rear end, regains its original position automatically. To prevent the platform F from turning over it is connected at its rear end to a rod, G1, by means of a cord, G2. II designates another tilting weighted platform, covering an in-` elosure, h, into which an animal falls when he climbs tov said platform over the inclined wall H when endeavoring to escape through the grated end of the trap. From the compartment h the animal is taken through the doorway z'.

NVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The pivote-d baithook E, connecting-rod c, pivoted board'D, and sliding bolt C, com-A bined and arranged .substantially as specied.

2. rIhe weighted pivoted platform F in combination with trap-door B, having the lugs y, the cord G2, and rod G1,snbstantially as speeiiied.

3. The weighted tilting platformH, covering the compartment Il in a trap having the radial-winged trap-door B and tilting platform F, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT B. MAY.

Witnesses:

J AMES O. OsLiN, Unas. R. HOLMES. 

